Dealer Reality Check – What’s In, What’s Out in 2026

The automotive industry is shifting fast driven by rising consumer expectations, increasing transparency, and growing pressure to connect technology that was never built to work together. This session isn’t a traditional keynote and it’s not a pitch. It’s an honest look at what’s actually happening inside dealerships today.

From fragmented vendor stacks to misunderstood technology claims, we’ll separate perception from reality and highlight what’s truly working and what’s quietly holding dealers back. We’ll break down how consumer expectations are reshaping operations, why fragmentation continues to create friction, and what true integration looks like in practice. The session also includes a focused segment led by Brennan on what artificial intelligence really means, where it delivers value, and why connected data matters more than buzzwords.

We’ll close with a direct “What’s In / What’s Out” reality check, highlighting the strategies dealers should leave behind and the connected approaches that will define success in 2026. Key Takeaways: See How Consumer Expectations Are Changing the Rules: Understand how today’s customers expect faster answers, simpler experiences, and consistent information — and what that means for dealership operations. Recognize How Too Many Systems Create Too Many Problems: Learn how disconnected tools and vendor overload create confusion, slow teams down, and make it harder to deliver a smooth customer experience.

Understand What Real Integration Actually Looks Like: Best practices for reducing complexity while improving data visibility, performance, and customer experience. Learn How to Spot Gaps Between Vendor Promises and Reality: Walk away with simple ways to check performance, validate results, and make sure your technology is doing what it should. Understand the Difference Between AI and Automation: Cut through the noise and learn what artificial intelligence really is — and what it isn’t.

See Where AI Is Actually Helping Dealers Today: Explore real examples of where AI is improving decisions, saving time, and supporting dealership operations.. Walk Away Knowing What to Keep — and What to Let Go: Leave with a clear view of what strategies are fading out and what connected approaches are becoming essential for success in 2026.